Another school shooting, this time on the campus of Michigan State University.
A suspect has died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a mass shooting at Michigan State University that left three people dead and five others injured Monday evening, police said.
“There is no longer a threat to campus,” Interim Deputy Chief Chris Rozman said. “We believe there to only be one shooter in this incident and there is no longer a need to shelter in place on campus.”
The shooting, which spanned two different campus locations, prompted an hourslong shelter-in-place order as hundreds of officers from multiple agencies converged on the campus to search for the gunman.
The first report of shots fired came at 8:18 p.m. ET from Berkey Hall, an academic building on the northern end of campus. Officers responded to the building within minutes and found several shooting victims, including two who died, Rozman said.
The incident unfolded starting at 8:18 p.m. ET at Berkey Hall, where several shooting victims were found, Rozman said. Immediately after, shots were fired nearby at the Michigan State University Union Building, he said.
“Police and emergency responders acted quickly. We tended to the victims at both of those scenes,” Rozman said.
Two of those who died were at Berkey Hall, and the third was at the MSU Union, according to Rozman.
At least five people were taken to a hospital, all of them in critical condition, according to Rozman. Police have not disclosed whether the victims included students.
Hours later, the suspect “was contacted by law enforcement off campus” and “it does appear that that suspect has died from a self inflicted gunshot wound,” Rozman reported.
“This truly has been a nightmare that we are living tonight,” Rozman said. “We are relieved to no longer have an active threat on campus, while we realize that there is so much healing that will need to take place after this.”
Rozman said it remains unknown what motivated the shooting.
The difference this time is that Michigan Democrats now control the state legislature along with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and more than just "thoughts and prayers" will be forthcoming.
As authorities reconvened in the wake of a mass shooting at Michigan State University that left three dead and five critically injured, elected officials made a pledge for response.
“As parents we tell our kids, it’s gonna be okay. We say that all the time,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said, her voice full of emotion. “But the truth is words are not good enough. We must act and we will.”
Whitmer said she spoke with U.S. President Joe Biden and “he pledged his support and the thoughts of an entire nation.”
All of the victims in the shooting were MSU students, Deputy MSU police chief Chris Rozman said.
U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Lansing, represented Oxford High School when that school endured a mass shooting a little more than one year ago, in November 2021.
“I am filled with rage that we have to have another press conference to talk about our children being killed in their schools,” Slotkin said. " I would say that you either care about protecting kids or you don’t. You either care about having an open honest conversation about what is going on in our society, or you don’t. But please don’t tell me you care about the safety of children. If you’re not willing to have a conversation about keeping them safe in a place that should be a sanctuary.”
Michigan Republicans ignored the Oxford shooting 16 months ago and that was a factor that helped to lose them the legislature. Now the Democrats are in charge.
We'll see what legislation comes from this tragedy.
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